346 THE HORSE 



ear to distinguish the character of the cough. But a horse 

 which is galloped sharply, and then rapidly twisted first one 

 way and then the other, or which is made to gallop round 

 fast in the lunge, will quickly betray the secret if anything 

 is wrong. It must be borne in mind that an animal who 

 has only just recovered from a severe cold, and whose throat 

 is relaxed, will sometimes make a noise temporarily, yet 

 show no signs of it when perfectly recovered. I have many 

 a time refused to pass such a horse, but directed that it 

 should be shown again in about six weeks' time, when the 

 horse has frequently turned out perfectly sound. 



A broken-winded horse will sometimes emit no grunt 

 when threatened with a stick in a fair, but it cannot pass 

 one simple test : put a man on its bare back, without a saddle, 

 and direct him to urge it to a trot, when the ailment will be 

 at once apparent. This is possibly because the weight is 

 directly over the lungs. 



There is one thing which should never be omitted : the 

 horse should always be turned rapidly round, first one way 

 and then another, on its own ground, and then made to 

 back. If it is a shiverer this test will find it out. Shivering 

 — so-called — is a disease of the spine, and no shiverer is able 

 to back, although it may stand any trial in a straightforward 

 direction. 



Auction Sales. 



When purchasing a horse at an auction it is advisable to 

 study the rules in force at that particular auction, which will 

 be found printed under the " Conditions of Sale." Although 

 the chief auction marts are conducted on much the same 

 lines they sometimes differ in minor particulars, and the 

 purchaser has only himself to blame if he does not study 

 such important items as to what constitutes a warranty at 

 that particular mart ; and what period is allowed for a trial, 

 within which time the horse must be returned if a breach 

 of warranty or serious misdescription is alleged. 



Notice of complaint in respect of any lot not answer- 

 ing the description, or warranty, should invariably be 

 delivered in writing, and a duplicate kept ; and care must 



